Food Network Star, Season 12: Top Moments of Episode 6

Get an inside look at the finalists' challenges and relive memorable moments from the sixth episode of Food Network Star, Season 12.

When Sweet Goes Savory

Duff Goldman is known for creating over-the-top designs on towering cakes, and that's just what the finalists will have to make this week — but with savory dishes, not dessert.

Kid-Focused

Rob declares that he's ditched the "wild" point of view and is "going full force lunch lady." This week's challenge allows him to take full advantage of that perspective, as his turkey-shaped turkey dish encourages a hands-on approach. "Kids like to eat and play with food," Rob says in his presentation, and sure enough, he takes to chowing down on it "like Godzilla." Bobby notes, "It was a tiny bit awkward, I would say."

Popping and Locking with Pork

In true Jernard fashion, his presentation ends with an impromptu dance number. "You can also just pop-lock around the house with them," he says of his eat-with-your-hands pork-ball lollipops as he breaks it down on set. "This is a show I want to watch," Duff says simply. Jernard's meatballs, however, though they are full of good flavor, are lacking in artistry, according to the judges. "It's not quite as artistic as some of your fellow competitors' [dishes]," Giada tells him.

Fields of Risotto Come to Life

Though Damiano catches flack for once again referring to a field that was across the street from him in Italy, Giada says his radicchio leaf stuffed with risotto "really does look like a tulip." His successes on the plate and on camera secure him a win in this challenge.

Could Be Better

Though Erin, the Holiday Baking Champion, is ecstatic to see Duff — he hosted Holiday Baking Championship — she's less than pleased that the challenge is savory and not sweet. Nevertheless, she makes meatloaf-turned-cupcakes, and the mentors commend her realistic-looking offering. Her presentation, though, is lacking. "Some spunk," Erin admits of what she's missing from her showing.

Cute Begets Cute

"It's going to be cute, and that's what I do," Tregaye says simply of her plan, a fish design made from a base of creamed corn, a body of lox and thinly sliced radishes for the scales. The panel is impressed with both the art on the plate and the delivery of her presentation. "I think you had fun with it, and that's, to me, what you're all about," Bobby tells her. Along with Damiano, she earns a win in this challenge.

Social Stars

At the start of the Star Challenge, Bobby stresses the importance of social media, and he and Giada welcome two guys who are no strangers to success in the social world: Rhett and Link of YouTube's Good Mythical Morning. Thanks to their trusty "wheel of mythicality," Rhett and Link, along with the mentors, challenge finalists to pair two disparate ingredients in a "Will It" test of companionship. "Your job is to prepare the most-appetizing dish possible," Bobby tells them. And with combos like octopus and mac and cheese, and kimchi and bread pudding, this will be a tricky test.

Embracing the Unknown — Barely

Joy is saddled with a kimchi-and-bread-pudding pairing, and she's not handling the situation too well. "This fermented cabbage is looking at me with evil eyes because it knows that I have to bite into it," she says. She manages to bury the kimchi in deep-fried bread balls, so much so that Bobby says, "We just need more kimchi here." Her presentation is also lacking, as she spends too much time on a tangential discussion about a cruise.

Warming Up to Each Other

"This is all going in a very strange direction," Ana admits of her segment with Rhett and Link. Not only does she joke about dating Link, but soon she's snuggling up to Rhett's shoulder. "I've never seen an interview like that before," Bobby tells her. When it comes to her dish — a pairing of radishes and bread pudding — the judges struggle to discern radish flavor.

Creating Fruit Meatballs

"I think you took sort of the easy way out here," Bobby tells Damiano of his cantaloupe-and-spaghetti-and-meatballs dish. Instead of marrying the elements as one, he simply wraps the balled melon in prosciutto and serves those bites as his meatballs on the side of the pasta. "There is almost zero risk in this," Giada adds. His presentation, however, receives more positive feedback, as Giada tells him, "You did a nice job describing your dish."

Missing the Mark

In his segment with Rhett and Link, Rob fails to describe his dish and almost forgets to taste it as well. "You're not doing your job," Bobby tells him. It's too bad that Rob doesn't focus more on his dish, because the mentors are wowed by its flavor. "The inside is soft and velvety, and it's the perfect blend," Giada says. "But you undersold it. It is way better than you described it."

Well-Done

Jernard once again brings the swagger for which he's come to define himself. He holds his own when Rhett and Link pepper him with questions about pairing fish and cheese in his tuna-patty melt combo, and the mentors praise him for that. "You were so confident about your dish," Bobby says, "that people were like, 'Oh, I guess that does work,' no matter what they think." And at the end of his evaluation, he closes with the splits, just because. He is one of two finalists to end up on top this week.

Mixed Reactions

Erin knows she has to deliver "spunk" in this challenge, and she wastes no time in doing that, telling Rhett and Link that she wants to mix up the seating arrangement on set. Giada is pleased with the progress Erin's made, but she adds, "I just don't think you did a great job at selling the sardine quesadilla." The flavor of the dish isn't a hit, as Bobby notes, "The sardines are very strong."

Fleeking and Fabulous

"They are very sarcastic," Tregaye notes of Rhett and Link during her segment with the guys, "but I'm going to get this out today." Not only does she succeed in describing her octopus-mac-and-cheese dish, but she does it in an entertaining way. "It was super engaging and super funny," Rhett tells her. The octopus is also a success, as Bobby notes, "The octopus is better than I thought it was going to be." She joins Jernard in the top this week.

Rob's Exit

Both troubled with missteps in their food or presentations this week, Joy and Rob land among the bottom this week. Though they admit that Joy shied away from kimchi, one of her two challenge ingredients, the mentors can't overlook Rob's lack of progress in the competition. Ultimately he's sent home this week. "This sucks. I never wanted anything so bad as to win Food Network Star," Rob says.

One-on-One with Rob

We checked in with Rob following his elimination. Hear what he had to say about the competition and learn his thoughts on the remaining finalists in an exclusive exit interview.

Go Behind the Scenes

See what the mentors, finalists and crew are up to between takes by checking out insider photos from the set.

More: Behind the Scenes of Food Network Star, Season 12: Part 1

Want More Food Network Star?

Check out Food Network's official Star headquarters for more insider coverage of the competition, plus exclusive mentor interviews, behind-the-scenes photos and winning recipes.

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